Get the Inside Scoop on Oasis of the Seas

I’ll be spending two nights on Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas over Thanksgiving weekend. The purpose of the trip is to experience and learn all I can about this fantastic ship. The challenge is to do it in only 42 hour!. I will be particularly interested in the ship’s accessibility for guests who have disabilities and also how this ship can best suit groups.

Oasis of the Seas is opening her doors to thousands of travel agents and news media over a two week period. If you watch television, it would be hard to not have heard about “the world’s largest cruise ship.” Heck, this thing is sailing with a blimp, carousel, multiple “neighborhood” areas, a zip-line and other unique features as well as RCCL’s standard feature, a rock-climbing wall, and a FlowRider which has been popular on all of Royal Caribbean’s larger ships.

Most agents will be checking cabin categories, public areas, trying the food and seeing what the shows and entertainment are like so they can best guide their clients to the kind of vacation that many people dream about. But an “access travel specialist” has extra duties. We’re recording access (or lack thereof) details. We are measuring lengths, heights and widths, and taking photos of things that make some people scratch their heads. “Regular” agents aren’t typically taking photos of toilets, lips in doorways and unisex bathroom signs. They also don’t lay on the floor to take a photo of a glass of water on a ramp to show the angle of the ramp in a cabin. Then again, typical travel agents don’t get as excited as our Access Travel Team specialists when we see a door handle instead of a doorknob on a public room door! Yep, we are a bit of an anomaly in the travel industry world.

My tape measure, camera, new Flip Video, battery charger and detailed deck plan are all ready to be packed. My list of questions and specifics to check on is growing. As well as the questions and details from our office, some clients have asked that I check specific items and members of Cruise Critic responded to my offer by listing some of their questions and concerns which have been added to my list.

Do you have an access detail you’d like for me to check on? No promises that I’ll get to it, but I’ll certainly try. Just respond back as a “comment” to this blog with your question before Thanksgiving and I’ll add it to my list.

-Connie

The Twist in the Road

I felt like I knew Sharon and Bob Hanlon from Bob’s book, “The Twist in the Road”, before actually meeting them at our St. James UCC book club earlier this week. This book became our summer reading book after our leader, Joanne Morris, met the local author.

Bob’s quite the character… which I mean in a very positive way. He’s a storyteller, he’s funny and he does dress like a cowboy. Which is cool because I happen to think Pennsylvania needs more cowboys. Cowboys have a certain presence that lets you know they’re around and they are brave and hardworking.

The other half of the duo is Bob’s wife, Sharon. Sharon is soft-spoken and her name’s not on the book cover so you might think she’s shy and living in Bob’s shadow. Ohhhh, not so! Sharon is a soft-spoken cowgirl with an equally great sense of humor, just minus the apparel. She brings meaning to “speak softly and carry a big stick” except that her “stick” is a cane.

Actually, Bob and Sharon both use canes. In our office, we would refer to them as “slow walkers”- travelers who don’t use wheelchairs, but need some extra consideration of the details for the most comfortable and successful vacation. The details for slow walkers can range from some extra advice to a bit of minor tweaking to some more involved arrangements.

Bob and Sharon have had major “twists” in their road. Bob woke up one day to a day like any other. He went out for a spin in a private plane he piloted and went to bed that night with a newly acquired spinal cord injury. After an issue with the plane making it a “lawn dart” (his words), he ended up with a T12 incomplete break. Years of surgeries, rods, tenacity, hard work and faith have passed. He walks using braces and a cane, but he’s walking.

Bob meets Sharon, they marry and life is good. His experience with the health care system enables them to disagree with a doctor which saves Sharon’s life over a blocked artery. A couple of years later, Sharon goes from feeling good one day to being in the hospital with only the ability to blink a day or two later. Again, experience helped push for the right people, a gut feeling and the right tests. Sharon was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). Her new road included pit stops at ventilators and plasma exchanges. Sharon still has residual effects that are part of her new road, but she's doing great.

This is a story, but not one of victimization or depression. I usually shy away from the adjectives of “brave” and “inspirational” because I feel they get overused. But this is a brave couple with an inspirational story filled with lessons in spinal cord injury, GBS, navigating and advocating in the health care system, goal-setting, humor and faith, but without feeling inundated, bored or depressed while reading it. It’s how to get through those twists in the road and thrive in spite of them. Their being brave and inspirational isn't due to what life threw at them. Instead, it’s because of how they used their resources to meet their goals. They’ve learned things the hard way and their ambition is to share what they’ve learned to benefit others.

“The Twist in the Road” is a quick read and I think you’ll enjoy it. After you read it, reply to this blog with your thoughts on it.

~ Connie


P.S. The MDA telethon is this weekend. If you are interested in learning about how MDA has been involved in treatment of GBS, click here.

Aloha & Happy Anniversary, Hawaii!

Happy 50th anniversary, Hawaii!

A lot has changed since President Dwight Eisenhower signed the “Hawaii Admission Act” in 1959. Man has walked on the moon and we have inventions such as microwave ovens, wireless TV remote controls, smoke detectors, MRIs and let’s not forget personal computers since that’s the technology helping this article to reach you!

And lots of other neat things have come about such as adaptive sports. I recently came across a website for AccesSurf Hawaii. I’ve never surfed and my idea of even snorkeling is to keep the tube doohickey’s opening above water so that I don’t have to figure out how to blow the water out of it. But hey, I don’t need to ice skate or be a gymnast to appreciate the talent and work that I watch on the Olympics.

This site intrigued me as we’ve had a few clients and their families who have been profoundly affected by adaptive sports during vacations. AccesSurf’s goal seems to be enabling people, locals and tourists, to be able to access the ocean to enjoy surfing, swimming, snorkeling and shoreline flotation despite any mental or physical disability. They currently do this on a limited budget and with the help of volunteers on Oahu on the first Saturday of every month. I know there are other places around the U.S. that do a “Day at the Beach”, but I’m not familiar with any that do it monthly.

As with any nonprofit organization, funds are always needed for current operations and for growth. The Omidyar Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation has presented a challenge. If AccesSurf can raise $25,000 by August 31, 2009, the Omidyars will match dollar-for-dollar all monies raised up to $25,000. It’s a lofty goal, but doable.

“Aloha” is an amazing and beautiful Hawaiian word that means love, affection, peace and compassion. It’s also used in place of “hello” and “goodbye.” In the aloha spirit and to celebrate Hawaii’s anniversary, Connie George Travel Associates will make a $25 donation to AcceSurf Hawaii for every Hawaii cruise and escorted tour booked through our agency this month.

Visit their website at http://www.accessurfhawaii.org/ if you would like to learn more about their program or to make a direct donation. While there, be sure to click on their "Participants" page to see some fantastic photos.

Aloha!

~ Connie & the Access Travel Team

Why Not Talk Cruise .... About Accessible Seas!

I’m very excited and am planning my Friday afternoon around a radio show!

Royal Caribbean International has been hosting a show, “Why Not Talk Cruise” on the online radio station, The VoiceAmerica™ Talk Radio Network for a few months on Friday afternoons at 2:00 EST. I’m excited because this Friday’s (7/24/09) episode is devoted to “Accessible Seas!” The show’s guest will be Jean Driscoll, a Para-Olympian and godmother to Mariner of the Seas.

I didn't get the chance to meet Ms. Driscoll, but I did get the opportunity to check Mariner of the Seas the week she was onboard for the christening. I was checking and photographing "access." I'm the odd travel agent who does things like laying on the floor to get a photo showing a very slightly sloped floor and no lip to access the accessible cabins' bathrooms. (I'm a curiosity to most other travel agents when I'm on an agent ship tour as my photo choices are a bit unique.... and I sure take a lot of bathroom shots!)

I'm anxious to hear anything new that will be announced. I bet one topic of discussion will be the world's largest cruise ship (46 of her cabins will be accessible!), Oasis of the Seas which starts sailing this fall.

You can catch the show live at http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=39962 . The show will be archived on that site in case you miss the live episode. If attending live, click on "Channels" at the top and then on "Why Not Talk Cruise."

Let me know what you think of the episode.

~ Connie

Delivering an Accessible World

By guest blogger, Andrew J. Garnett




A few months ago, I was filling up one of our Special Needs at Sea delivery vans at a gas station. A woman approached me about the logo on the side of the van and wanted to know what it meant. I told her that we deliver oxygen and mobility equipment to cruises, hotels and airports around the world. The woman was amazed; she did not know that a service like this even existed. As it turned out, her mother had poor health. She said to me, “do you mean you can help mom get back out in the world?”

Since our company’s inception, we have provided services like oxygen, wheelchairs, scooters, power chairs, walkers and other specialty equipment to thousands of individuals so that (1) travel can be a reality and (2) travel experiences would be more enjoyable and comfortable.

Without knowing about companies like Special Needs at Sea, individuals who are disabled and slow walkers (people who require assistance walking with speed or distance but do not consider themselves disabled) are often daunted by travel. We have eliminated the hassle caused by lugging devices on planes or cars. We have eased the minds of people worried that their scooters or other mobility equipment will come off airplanes broken or damaged. Our specialty equipment is waiting in cruisers staterooms, at the hotels or wherever the individual needs it.

We also make travel a reality. Disabled travelers and slow walkers often believe that their only option is staying at home and that traveling is no longer an option. We have made travel possible for cancer survivors, individuals with hip replacements and individuals who have been prescribed oxygen. Plus, with families now living all around the world, we have made it possible for everyone to enjoy weddings, reunions, meetings and religious gatherings.

Similar to that woman I met at the gas station, our goal is to make sure family and friends with special needs are safe, healthy and able to enjoy life. Special Needs at Sea delivers an accessible world.



Andrew J. Garnett, President/CEO
Special Needs Group





P.S. For examples of equipment available for rent, visit our WheelchairCruising's Equipment Rental page. Connie George Travel Associates is happy to assist you with renting equipment which can make your cruise more enjoyable and comfortable.



For further information regarding Special Needs Group / Special Needs at Sea, visit http://www.specialneedsgroup.com/ .

Get Your Free Copy!

The much awaited third edition of Candy Harrington's "Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow Walkers" is hitting the streets and I predict it to be even popular than her past books! Candy is known for her honesty, digging out the details, pulling no punches and citing resources. She also includes various people's experiences which breaks up the book into a more "fun" read than a dry resource.

To celebrate the book, Candy is giving away some free autographed copies of her new book. Read about how you can get your free copy at http://budurl.com/mz7b.

~ Connie and the Access Travel Team

Flying Fish & Rolling Wheels

The Alaska cruise season is in full swing with many of the ships sailing from the Seattle. With so many exciting places to visit in this friendly city, it’s a great place to stay for a few nights before your cruise.

One unique attraction, Pike Place Fish Market, has quite the fan club and there’s a recipe to their success. They are one part Cirque du Soleil with the way they entertain their customers. Add in a piece of your favorite wacky teacher because they know their seafood and are happy to teach you about your dinner. Throw in a pinch of that “goofy big brother” because of their way of having fun, but also being a part of the community. Mix all of these ingredients and you find why Pike Place Fish Market has become an “experience” which has also made it into one of Seattle’s biggest tourist attractions as well as everyone’s favorite place to buy seafood.

I’ve visited their store twice when I’ve been in Seattle, dragging my teenage sons with me the second time a few years ago. I say “dragging” because, well, sightseeing in a marketplace wasn’t rating as high as the Underground that they had just toured. However, flying fish and the largest crab legs they’ve ever seen in their life gave my sons an experience that they still talk about!

The guys at Pike Place Fish know the essence of “community.” They interact with their guests (customers) and are active with local events. And in this time when businesses are learning about “social network marketing”; they’ve learned it, embraced it and have marked their presence.

Their website is fun and which matches the personality of the business, complete with a webcam, photos, online store and blog. They tweet on Twitter and they have the most fun Facebook group I’ve come across.

My enthusiasm gained a lot of momentum over that Facebook group. Every picture exudes fun whether it’s them interacting with the famous Globetrotters or the non-celebrities who stop by. That is how it came about that I called Anders at Pike Place Fish Market. I explained that my agency’s specialty of accessible cruise vacations for slow walkers and wheelchair users represents about 60% of our business, and that our http://www.wheelchaircruising.com/ website houses photos showing accessibility of cruise ships and ports. Talk about accommodating! Anders sent some wonderful photos showing that same fun and enthusiasm with a couple of customers that were happy to assist with the project. While we have some attractions and cruise lines which have been pretty good at supplying photos, there are even more which aren’t so accommodating. But in the same exciting spirit that they do everything else, Pike Place sent photos.

If you get to visit Seattle, visit the marketplace. But if you aren’t lucky enough to see them in person, you can get to know them further and order from them online at their website.



-Connie & the Access Travel Team

P.S. Get free smoked salmon from Pike Place Fish Market- Book an Alaska cruise for 2009 or 2010 through our office between 6/17/09 - 7/31/09. Send an email to Connie with the header "Flying fish blog" and, in the email include the names of the travelers and the name of our agent who is working with you. Your salmon will be sent ot you upon return of your trip.